Europe Map

Explore this map of Europe, which is the world's second smallest continent having 50 sovereign countries. The continent of Europe occupies 6.8% of the total land area on Earth as shown in the map of Europe, that it holds small percentage of land worldwide. It has a rich cultural & historical heritage, and is also regarded as the birthplace of Western civilization – especially the ancient Greece. Europe comprises around 11% of the world’s population, as of 2016 census.

Map of Europe - Click on any Country for its Map and Information

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About Europe Map

The map of Europe shows the countries that are located on the continent. The map of Europe also notes the political boundaries of each nation and makes it easy to distinguish one from the other. Prominent rivers, lakes, and mountain peaks are noted and clearly shown on The Europe Map. The continents that border Europe, Asia and Africa are also shown in the map of Europe. Click on any European Country in the map to get a detailed map and information about that particular European country.

About The European Continent

Europe is the second smallest continent in the world, spanning some 3,930,000 square miles.

The continent covers 2% of the Earth’s surface. Europe is politically divided into 50 sovereign states as shown in the map of Europe, when the border is pushed eastward, adding Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Georgia to Europe rather than Asia. The geographical boundaries are hazy and have changed drastically throughout history in The Europe Map. Based on cultural perceptions and political unions, the division between Europe and Asia is typically determined by the route along the Ural Mountains. Both Russia and Turkey have territories within Europe and have some of their areas are located in Asia as well - further blurring the separation between the two in the map of Europe. As of 2016, the population of Europe stood at 741.4 million.

Countries in Europe

Russia's European section covers 1.54 million square miles, making it the largest country on the continent as also shown in The Europe Map. Vatican City which is near Sardina {Italy} also shown on the map of Europe is the smallest and covers an area of just 0.17 sq. miles. Some important cities in Europe are London, Berlin, Paris, Prague, Copenhagen, Zurich, Madrid, Amsterdam, Moscow, Istanbul, Venice, Rome, and Vienna, to name a few. The most populated metros in Europe are Moscow, Russia, Dusseldorf, Germany, Paris, France, London, England, Amsterdam, and the Netherlands. The most popular languages spoken in Europe include English, French, Russian, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch and Turkish.

History of Europe

The European continent was influenced by the Classical Greek culture of the 8th-century B.C.

The powerful influences of the Roman Empire shown on the map of Europe spread to Northern and Mediterranean Europe. The Romans had a profound impact on the growth of the continent's rich culture and architecture.

After the collapse of the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire emerged and thrived (285-1450) in the eastern Europe.

In Western Europe, several tribal groups assumed power, giving rise to smaller, faction kingdoms. The geography of Western Europe went through a major change as well as thus changing position the kingdoms on the Europe Map altogether.

The Viking Age continued in Northern Europe from 8th to 13th centuries.

The European colonial period, which spanned from the 16th Century, to the mid-20th century, saw European powers establishing colonies in Asia, Africa, and the Americas as also known throughout the history ,thus completely changing the power division throughout the world and the map of Europe.

The European colonial era came to an end with revolts in Africa, India, and the Middle East.

The two World Wars caused severe damage to Europe, both financially and demographically. Have a look at our maps to see how Europe looked during World War I And World War II.

Two major events in Europe's recent history were; the fall of Berlin Wall (1989), and the fall of the Soviet Union (1991).

The second-half of 20th century saw integration of several factions, and the establishment of the European Union (EU).

The Ukrainian territory of Crimea, regarded as the common legacy of Russia, was forcibly annexed by the Russian Federation on March 18, 2014.

Geography of Europe Map

Europe is connected by land to Asia on its east, while oceans and seas lie to its southeast, southwest, west, and north as shown in the map of Europe. The continent features a 24,000 mile-long coastline. Europe features some of the oldest mountains on the planet. The Alps were formed when the continent of Africa moved north and collided with Europe. Europe and Asia, are together referred as 'Eurasia.'

Islands and Archipelagoes

Europe is dotted with archipelagoes and islands also shown in the map of Europe. This includes the British Isles, Svalbard, Faroe Islands, Novaya Zemlya, Iceland, Franz Josef Land, Sicily, Cyprus, and Crete among others.

Climate

Western experience a semi-humid continental climate, with cool summers. In Central and Eastern Europe, summers are warm, but winters are often harsh, with snowfall being a commonality.

People

A continent of great diversity, Europe takes pride in the assimilation of different languages, religions, and ethnicity. Most Europeans follow Christianity, with Western Europe being dominated by Roman Catholics, northern Europe by Protestants, and the southeastern Europe by Eastern Orthodox shown on the map of Europe. For language, Russian has the most speakers, followed by German. The European Union uses 20 official languages.

Literature

From Homer to Shakespeare, and George Orwell to Virginia Woolf, Europe's legacy of literary influence has been carried forward by generation of poets, dramatists, and novelists. With such an illustrious past, Europe has been the cradle of renowned musicians, filmmakers, painters, and architects. Over the last few millennia, the Renaissance, French Revolution, and Modernism, have shaped the political thinking of Europe, brought cultural and social enlightenment, and economic advancement not just through Europe but it traveled throughout the world across the Europe Map and the map of other countries.

Art and Architecture

European Art has evolved through a series of eras, each showing a particular style. Some of the most known artistic styles that have flourished in Europe are; Classical, Medieval, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Modern. When it comes to European architecture, there are a great number of the Gothic churches and monuments spread across the continent. The bridges in Amsterdam, colossal Greek architecture in Athens, museums in Berlin, and churches in Rome and Paris are world renowned across the map of Europe.

Sports

Soccer (football) is the most popular sport across Europe. From the UEFA Champions League to the Spanish La Liga, many of the top football clubs around the world compete at these prestigious sporting events. Rugby, Cricket, and Ice hockey, are other popular sports that nearly every European country participates in. Europe has also hosted several summer and winter Olympics events on multiple occasions with the participation of different countries all across the world and the map of Europe diverse countries.

Economy and Industry

Germany and France shown in the map of Europe continue to drive the European economy. The United Kingdom has opted to exit the European Union, but will continue to remain an active participant of the European economy. Russia's economy is mainly driven by oil refining and defense manufacturing. Switzerland continues to be the focal country for banking and investment, followed by the UK, Germany, and France. With Brexit looming, London’s status as a financial hub is now being challenged by Frankfurt and Paris. In the manufacturing sector, Germany, France, Italy, and Sweden lead the way in their respective areas of dominance. France, UK, Germany, and Russia remain dependent on a growing defense industry.

Interesting Facts about the European continent

One must have thought that Eiffel Tower or the Big Ben would be the most visited destination in Europe, but it is in fact, Disneyland, in (Paris), France located on the Europe Map.

Thingvellir National Park of Iceland, one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Europe, was home to the world's first democratic parliament.

The continent as shown in the map of Europe, despite being relatively small, it is the third most populated continent, after Africa and Asia.

Mount Etna in southern Italy is Europe's largest active volcano.

Renaissance and Industrial Revolution- had a significant impact on the world, and Europe was the main location during the period.

Over the years, the boundary of Asia and Europe has changed significantly as shown on the Europe Map.

Europe has witnessed some of the largest and powerful empires, for example the Roman Empire and the British Empire.

Over 250 languages are spoken in the continent.

Istanbul in Turkey which is shown in the map of Europe is the largest city in European continent.

Greenland is closer to North America in proximity, yet it is considered European. The reason is that it is a dependent territory of Denmark – a country of the continent as also shown in the Europe Map.

The Mediterranean Sea is known to have dried numerous times in the past. The phenomenon is referred as 'Messinian Salinity Crisis.'

The oldest country in Europe is Bulgaria – as the name has not been changed since 641 AD.